Norman Griffiths Oval set to undergo synthetic field upgrade

Northern Suburbs Football Association

Following a severely weather-affected season, the Northern Suburbs Football Association is set to welcome synthetic field upgrades for Norman Griffiths Oval.

The home of West Pymble FC, Norman Griffiths Oval has long struggled with drainage and grass coverage. Ku-ring-gai Council identified the field as a suitable location for a synthetic conversion over five years ago and after several revisions to the plans the project is due to begin construction next month.

It comes after a 2022 season significantly affected by rain throughout the first half of the year – the full field at Norman Griffiths Oval has only been open for one weekend of senior football fixtures this season. NSFA and West Pymble have been able to utilise part of the playing surface for junior football matches on six weekends, still only half of the competition weeks available so far this season.
Ku-ring-gai region grounds have suffered significantly during 2022, with the following fields unable to see any training or match usage this season:

• Primula Oval
• Kent Oval
• Barra Brui
• George Christie
• Loyal Henry
• The Glade Main field & Midi
• Ku-ring-gai High School

“This season our playing community has lost hundreds of hours of physical activity due to ground closures brought on by wet weather,” explained NSFA CEO Edward Ferguson in a statement via the NSFA.

“The synthetic field and lighting upgrade at Norman Griffiths Oval would triple the number of hours the field can be used per week, in addition to essentially eliminating wet weather closures.”

“With our player numbers expected to grow to 20,000 by the year 2026, this upgrade is essential to allow our community the opportunity to continue playing their chosen sport.”

West Pymble FC are equally excited by the prospect of the Norman Griffith Oval redevelopment as their female participation numbers soar, reaching 35% of total club numbers in 2022. The Club’s new strategic plan puts into focus their community, football development and providing all players access to football year-round. WPFC have been active in their support of the local referees association by hosting their pre-season courses and since 2006 have conducted their own Special Needs football program.

As a Club, West Pymble FC will be contributing over $850,000 to the project through member funds and grants as part of the Asian Cup Legacy fund, alongside NSFA’s $125,000 contribution. This investment from the Club and Association demonstrates the commitment football is willing to make towards Council grounds to create better community facilities and assets for the future.

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UEFA and Unilever renew partnership

UEFA has embraced Unilever as an Official Global Partner of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, kicking off in Switzerland on July 2 until July 27, 2025.

Unilever’s deal with UEFA builds off of their 2024 partnership and will see a wide array of Unilever’s Foods and Personal Care brands ignite their own integrated advertising campaigns to connect with fans and consumers in and out of the stadium, including household names like Dove, Rexona, Knorr and Hellmann’s.

UEFA marketing director, Guy-Laurent Epstein expressed UEFA’s excitement to work with Unilever again.

“Building on the success of our collaboration last summer, we are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Unilever for UEFA Women’s EURO 2025,” he said in a press release.

The support and interest in women’s football is on a sharp upward trajectory, and with Unilever’s portfolio of Food and Personal Care brands reaching billions of people every day, we look forward to celebrating the power of the game and bringing excitement to fans everywhere.”

General Manager of Unilever Foods Europe, Robbert de Vreede conveyed his enthusiasm for Unilever’s involvement in the upcoming Women’s EURO 2025.

“We are thrilled to partner with the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, enabling our Foods brands to connect with a large audience who come together enjoying the thrill of a football match with friends whilst sharing delicious foods,” he said in a UEFA press release.

“Just as a great BBQ brings people closer, football unites fans in a shared experience of passion and camaraderie. In this partnership we will create memorable moments that highlight the best of summer – good food, great company, and beautiful games.”

General Manager of Unilever Personal Care Europe, Fulvio Guarneri detailed why the collaboration between UEFA and Unilever was a perfect fit.

“This is an exciting opportunity for some of our biggest brands to tap into a big cultural moment and connect with millions of consumers who will be watching the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025,” he said via press release.

“It’s a great time for women’s football and this partnership fits perfectly with our Personal Care products which are all about feeling clean and confident, and taking part in sports. Together with our retail partners, we look forward to building on the success of last year’s men’s tournament, delivering unmissable campaigns across a variety of channels that celebrate the power of women’s football.”

Unilever joins an exciting list of brands for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 tournament, including household names such as adidas, Amazon, AXA, Booking.com, EA, Euronics, Grifols, Heineken, Hublot, Just Eat Takeaway.com, Lay’s, Lidl, PlayStation and Visa.

The Club Development Conference highlights community football

Significant Sporting Events Program 2023-24

On Saturday, February 1st, over 200 attendees came together at Valentine Sports Park for the 2025 Football NSW Club Development Conference.

With registrations for the 2025 season still coming in, over 85 Football NSW clubs from both Sydney Metropolitan and regional areas gathered for a dynamic day of workshops, panels, and special guest speakers, celebrating community football.

Presented by Stephanie Brantz, the Conference included keynote addresses from Karen Jones, Acting CEO of Destination NSW and Chief Executive of the NSW Office of Sport, Dr. Catriona Rose of the Australian Sports Commission, and Matildas cap #167, Ellie Brush.

After the successful second edition of the conference, Trevor Huxley, Football NSW’s Program Manager for Club Development, expressed his excitement over the strong support from the community.

“The Club Development Conference is a fantastic opportunity to bring together all levels of the game to learn from one another, network and discuss best practice for grassroots football,” said Huxley via press release.

“It has been inspiring to see grassroots clubs across the state in attendance, illustrating a remarkable commitment to supporting their local communities. It’s vital that Football NSW continues to lead in this space, providing support to the volunteers and local administrators who are central to the ongoing growth of our game.”

Along with the keynote speakers, attendees were able to choose sessions tailored to their Club or role, covering topics such as safeguarding, volunteerism, marketing and data analysis, infrastructure and grant funding, player and spectator behaviour, women & girls’ football, diversity and inclusion, and grassroots coach education.

The Football NSW Club Development Conference serves as a pivotal platform for enhancing community football by Empowering Clubs, Facilitating Networking, Offering Targeted Education and Showcasing Leadership.

By focusing on these areas, the conference plays a crucial role in strengthening community football, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring the sport’s sustainable growth.

To gain further details and access Club resources, click here.

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